Hybrid car: a green choice. Is a hybrid car worth it?
Governments and regional authorities are also encouraging this transition to hybrid technology.
People who opt for a hybrid car can benefit from discounts, often very big ones, such as on exemption from car ownership tax.
The convenience of a hybrid car is also measured in terms of government incentives and discounts, such as free access to Limited Traffic Areas and bypassing traffic blocks, depending on where you live.
These awards exist to encourage the use of hybrids, because hybrid cars combine an electric motor with a traditional petrol or diesel engine, thus allowing significant fuel savings.
A hybrid vehicle, in fact, is first and foremost a car that protects the environment, reducing fuel consumption and C02 emissions compared to traditional cars.
A clean and ecological technology
A hybrid car is the perfect choice for people who want to respect the environment, reducing consumption and the emission of polluting gases. This is because its combustion engine is supported by an electric one, which performs multiple functions, such as transforming the chemical energy of the fuel into kinetic energy, charging the battery of the electric motor, and recovering energy during regenerative braking.
Driving a hybrid car doesn’t just make a powerful contribution to cutting CO2 emissions, it yields economic and other benefits such as:
1. The reduction of noise pollution, because a hybrid engine emits much less noise than a traditional one.
2. Urban driving, because the hybrid car's motor is best for short trips in chaotic city traffic.
3. A hybrid car is also as easy to service and maintain as a classic vehicle. No special interventions are needed on the electrical part of the car.
Less pollution, more benefits
If you choose a hybrid car, you choose to consume less fuel and reduce pollution. A hybrid car helps to reduce fuel consumption and related expenditure.
Indeed, one of the main advantages of a hybrid car is tax exemption. The mixed car offers considerable advantages, although they differ from region to region.
Usually, hybrid cars are exempted from car property tax for up to five years after they are first registered.
They are also very comfortable to drive: with lower noise emissions and the internal combustion engine provides good performance over distance.
The advantages of a hybrid can be summed up as follows:
Savings.
Car property tax is lower for a hybrid car because it is only calculated on the horsepower of the thermal engine.
Mobility.
Depending on local council regulations, hybrid vehicles can travel free of charge or at a reduced fee in a Limited Traffic Area.
Ecology.
Hybrid cars are environmentally friendly because they release less CO2 into the environment. The integrated electric motor limits fuel consumption.
It has also been shown that drivers of hybrid cars are much more relaxed than drivers of conventional ones.
Hybrid and hybrid plug-in: similarities and differences.
The plug-in hybrid car represents a further evolution of the hybrid and is a combination of a hybrid and electric car. A plug-in hybrid car can also use a petrol engine efficiently like a hybrid car. This way, the driver doesn't have to worry about running out of electricity when travelling long distances.
The introduction of a plug-in socket makes hybrids much more versatile. The extra charging option means you don't have to rely on the engine, so you can recharge the battery at home and use the charge the next day, increasing the car's range and lowering consumption.
The real difference between hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars is that the latter don't need an internal combustion engine to recharge but can use an external power source.
An ally of the environment
The reduction in CO2 exhaust emissions is proportional to the reduction in fuel consumption provided by the hybrid system. This perfect combination of an electric motor and a petrol engine yields incredibly low emissions for a family car.
If all cars were hybrids, 247 million tonnes less CO2 would be emitted into the atmosphere every year. The presence of an integrated electric motor limits fuel consumption for the thermal one.
Hybrid technology makes the difference especially in city driving, where a second silent, zero-emission motor becomes a valuable ally for the environment.
Hybrid
The BSG architecture delivers on its promise of tangible benefits for everyone who gets behind the wheel. More precisely, the micro-electric motor assists traditional internal combustion engines for a smoother and quieter ride. It is able to add a jolt of power when restarting and micro-boost when accelerating. This creates a smoother Start&Stop when at traffic lights or sitting in heavy traffic, an easy and efficient way to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
In 2022, Fiat is building on its strong foundation by adding two Hybrid vehicles to its electric vehicle range: Tipo and 500x. These two vehicles answer the call of daily drivers for spacious, versatile vehicles. Thanks to a cutting edge technology that features the same 12V BSG and a 48V e-machine capable of delivering up to 15kW of power, Tipo and 500X benefit from electrification in many ways.
Hybrid vehicles can also allow access to enter major cities LTZ (limited traffic zones) areas. In addition to this, and most notably, up to 11% less fuel consumption*. Good for the environment and good for your wallet, and that's only the beginning.
On Tipo and 500X, the electric motor is installed between the engine and the transmission. This placement is essential in delivering the advantages and boost of electrification without losing the comfort and feel of the traditional motor. The 15kW of power generated by the electric motor is on hand to provide a silent start and smooth out transitions between Stop&Go and gear changes for a noticeably quieter ride. It even allows the vehicle to move solely on electric power for limited periods of time at lower speeds.
Unlike the Plug-in hybrid models, the new Hybrid does not require any power grid. The vehicle’s battery is charged in two ways. The first method operates by deceleration thanks to e-coasting, which happens while the vehicle decelerates; while the second method works with regenerative braking: when the vehicle stops, the electric motor uses the negative torque to recharge. In HYBRID vehicles, the electric motor also works to optimize the combustion engine that improves the driving experience and dynamics. While accelerating, the 15kW of power boosts torque to the wheels for instant acceleration and during braking for a smoother, more efficient stop.
*Compared to the 1.3 T4 gasoline engine
The hybrid architecture developed by Fiat features unique EV capabilities that leave a real mark, always depending on driving conditions and battery state of charge:
E-Creeping: the vehicle can move slowly in pure electric with the eMotor, just releasing the brake while ICE is off.
E-Launch: the vehicle can launch with eMotor while ICE is off, releasing the brake and managing the gas pedal.
E-Queuing: Perfect for high traffic areas, the vehicle can use a stop&go in combination with e-creeping.
E-Parking: All parking maneuvers in first gear and reverse are powered by only the electric motor.
These capabilities offer more practical ways for electric mobility to enter the lives of daily drivers, and it's another step for Fiat towards a fully electrified range. The future is greener and brighter when you're behind the wheel of one of these hybrid vehicles.
